On Saturday, John Fielder, an award winning photographer and a founder of Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), held a picture slideshow in the University Center to promote two books for GOCO’s 20th anniversary.

“GOCO was created in 1992 when Colorado voters directed a portion of lottery proceeds towards Colorado’s wildlife, parks, rivers, trails and open spaces,” GOCO’s website says.

The website explains that each year, the lottery share is distributed through competitive grants and investments in the Colorado Division of Parks & Wildlife.

Fielder became involved with GOCO in 1993 and served on the board for eight years. The idea for the slideshow came in 2010, when Fielder suggested publishing two books to raise awareness of GOCO’s investments, which include $27.8 million in Mesa County.

Fielder’s slideshow included pictures from the two books, and 30 percent of the proceeds from the event’s sales were donated to the Mesa Land Trust. According to its website, the Mesa Land Trust is dedicated to “conserving agricultural heritage, wildlife habitat, and natural lands in and around Mesa County.”

In a press release, the development officer for Mesa Land Trust, Mary Hughes, explained that the partnership between GOCO and Mesa Land Trust has facilitated much of their conservation efforts.

In 2011, GOCO awarded $484,840 to Mesa Land Trust to help sustain over 78 acres in the Grand Valley.

Hughes is enthusiastic about GOCO’s local investment being included in Fielder’s presentation. Their partnership was displayed before the slideshow during the pre-event reception, where guests were able to meet Fielder and get his books autographed. All of the proceeds from the $50 tickets went to Mesa Land Trust.

On Sunday, Fielder hosted a photography lesson at the local Horsethief Canyon Ranch. All of the $200 ticket proceeds also went to Mesa Land Trust.

“GOCO worked with John on these books as a way to celebrate the projects that land trusts, local governments and the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife have been able to achieve with GOCO/Lottery dollars,” GOCO communications director Chris Leding said in a press release.

He credited several organizations, including Mesa Land Trust, with creating “a better quality of life and a stronger economy.”

Fielder will be making several stops around Colorado to promote GOCO’s 20th anniversary. His next presentation will be in Highlands Ranch.

kirick@mavs.coloradomesa.edu